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Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:00:58 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.95 Skills Editors Want from Freelancers—Beyond Just Writinghttp://blog.fiverr.com/5-skills-editors-want-from-freelancers-beyond-just-writing/
http://blog.fiverr.com/5-skills-editors-want-from-freelancers-beyond-just-writing/#respondMon, 21 Jan 2019 14:00:58 +0000https://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28376There are more than 57 million freelancers in the US – that’s 36% of the country’s workforce. And they’re all fighting for their piece of the gig economy. So if you’re a freelance writer, you need to be able to do more than just, well, write. You need to be able to show potential clients […]

]]>There are more than 57 million freelancers in the US – that’s 36% of the country’s workforce. And they’re all fighting for their piece of the gig economy. So if you’re a freelance writer, you need to be able to do more than just, well, write.

You need to be able to show potential clients that you have a range of skills you can use to produce high-quality work and bring their brand or publication to the next level.

That’s why we asked five editors exactly what they want they want from their freelancers – and which skills writers can use to truly differentiate themselves in the growing freelance market.

Here’s what they said.

1. SEO skills

“I’m really impressed when a freelancer demonstrates a basic understanding of SEO. It can be something as simple as using headers, bullet points, and naturally interweaving keywords throughout the copy. I don’t expect my writers to be experts in the field, but having some familiarity makes them a far more attractive hire.”

2. CMS and HTML formatting

“Today’s content lives primarily on the web. As a freelance writer, it is extremely helpful to marketers when you are able to publish and format your own articles directly in a website content management system (CMS), including knowing how to select and place photos, use headings and subheadings, link to relevant content, etc. It helps to be familiar with common CMS platforms such as WordPress, Squarespace, Joomla, and Drupal, and have a basic understanding of HTML for formatting your content.”

4. Understanding of brand voice

“The best freelancers research our current portfolio of work before submitting their own. They get to know our editorial style guide in-and-out. They understand our style, voice, tone, and structure. This makes it easier for me to envision their work published among ours, it saves me time in the review process, and I know I can rely on them to embody our brand next time.”

5. Pitching ebooks and downloadable assets

“Innovation is all about coming to us with new and interesting ideas. On the Glassdoor blog, we primarily write articles, but every once in a while a freelancer will pitch us a great idea like an eBook or a downloadable asset. I appreciate when freelancers demonstrate that they’re trying to reach out to our audience in unique ways we haven’t thought of before.”

But how do you learn these skills?

So, you know exactly what editors are looking for. Now you just need to build those skills and add them to your toolbox.

The good news is that there are resources like Learn from Fiverr, where you can take e-learning classes in topics like SEO, content marketing, layout and design, and Facebook Ads targeting to enhance your services and increase your marketability.

This way, when you’re vying for your next freelance job, you’ll know that you can stand out and wow your potential client with more than just great writing.

Which skills do you use to differentiate yourself as a freelancer? Let us know in the comments below—and then take your skills to the next level with a Learn from Fiverr course

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/5-skills-editors-want-from-freelancers-beyond-just-writing/feed/0YouTuber Gaby Dunn on How to Manage Your Money—and Get Paid What You’re Worthhttp://blog.fiverr.com/youtuber-gaby-dunn-on-how-to-manage-your-money-and-get-paid-what-youre-worth/
http://blog.fiverr.com/youtuber-gaby-dunn-on-how-to-manage-your-money-and-get-paid-what-youre-worth/#commentsFri, 18 Jan 2019 14:00:34 +0000https://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28354There’s never been a better time to be a writer, seeing as there are more formats than ever in which to write. And Gaby Dunn, at only 30 years old, has tackled nearly all of them. Dunn has written for BuzzFeed Video, the Netflix series Big Mouth, and a range of publications, including The New […]

]]>There’s never been a better time to be a writer, seeing as there are more formats than ever in which to write. And Gaby Dunn, at only 30 years old, has tackled nearly all of them.

Dunn has written for BuzzFeed Video, the Netflix series Big Mouth, and a range of publications, including The New York Times, Playboy, Vice, Cosmopolitan, and The Boston Globe. Along with creative partner Allison Raskin, she also runs the YouTube channel, Just Between Us and co-wrote the young adult novel, I Hate Everyone But You.

We talked to her about how she keeps track of her finances, maintains her voice when working with brands, and knows how to ask for what she’s worth every time.

How do you maintain your creative voice when writing for a brand, say, in a YouTube video or Instagram post?

I don’t mind inserting brands into my content, but I’m very careful about which brands I work with and how they’re presented. On the podcast, they sent over copy for a razor company that said, “Don’t know what to get your man for Christmas? Try this razor.” And I’m like, “I’m not reading that. In what world?” But then I went and made what my friend Brittany Ashley called the most inclusive razor ad she’s ever heard. I said, “Hey, guys. Shave – or don’t! Who cares? Are you a guy or a girl or neither? I don’t know. Buy a razor – or don’t!” People can tell if you’re shilling for something and it’s not you. So you have to keep that in mind.

How can freelancers improve their money management?

Just keep track of everything. I never did. Now I have a spreadsheet where I write down what I’m owed from who, if they paid it, when they paid it. Now I go through my bank account to see if the payments went through. I used to never look at any of it. You cannot live that way. I also used to get so embarrassed asking to get paid, but they should be embarrassed. As a freelancer, you have to be chill with conflict, but sometimes you’re like, “No, I work in my bed. I don’t want any conflict!”

Look, man, it sucks, but you have to do it. Make a big poster in your house. Make a big Excel spreadsheet. It sucks. It’s terrible. It gives me full panic. But just drink a glass of wine and do it.

Allison and I have an LLC. We had to become incorporated. We have a business account. We have employees. We have all this stuff that I never thought would be part of being a creative. Even if I was just an actress, I would need to know about how I’m getting paid and where that money’s going and what percentage everyone’s taking. You think of yourself as a creative, so you’re like, “It’s not my job to know this.” But it is your job. It’s really crazy how many people I knew who were doing so much good work, but they didn’t have any money. Why? Because they weren’t keeping track of it.

So how *do* you ask for more money?

There were times early in my career when I would do projects for free because I just wanted to write, which is fine. But I also really had to learn to say, “No, here’s what this is worth. Here is the money that I need for this.”

I always tell my girlfriend, “Just ask for an insane amount of money and then see what they write back.” Either they’ll say, “no,” and then you start with the same amount that you had, which was zero. Or they’ll say, “Well, we can’t do $5,000, but we can do $1,000.” Great! You were at zero before. Or they might even say, “We can’t, but you know what we can do? We can pay for your transportation and lunch.” Then you decide if you want to do it. But it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Especially in the arts – or just marginalized people in any field – we’re nervous to ask for a lot because we’re just so happy to be here. But don’t just be happy to be here. Get paid to be here.

So, take a page from Dunn’s book – and podcast – and answer this: How do you keep track of your finances? Tell us in the comments below!

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/youtuber-gaby-dunn-on-how-to-manage-your-money-and-get-paid-what-youre-worth/feed/4The Faces of #FiverrConnections: Sharon, Digital Marketing Expert & Fiverr Pro Sellerhttp://blog.fiverr.com/the-faces-of-fiverrconnections-sharon-digital-marketing-expert-fiverr-pro-seller/
http://blog.fiverr.com/the-faces-of-fiverrconnections-sharon-digital-marketing-expert-fiverr-pro-seller/#commentsThu, 17 Jan 2019 14:00:49 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28457Freelancers tend to be renaissance men (and women, and non-binary unicorns). Working for yourself often pushes independent professionals to learn more, do more, and constantly evolve. Sharon Lee Thony is one such multi hyphenate. Restless in her role as a digital account executive, Sharon went back to school to earn a Wharton MBA while holding […]

]]>Freelancers tend to be renaissance men (and women, and non-binary unicorns). Working for yourself often pushes independent professionals to learn more, do more, and constantly evolve. Sharon Lee Thony is one such multi hyphenate. Restless in her role as a digital account executive, Sharon went back to school to earn a Wharton MBA while holding down her 9-5. She’s gone on to start her own consulting business, teach at General Assembly, and turned her side hustle into a full-time Gig. Did we mention she’s also a wife and mother of three (two kids, one dog)? And she’s not done yet. Read on to find out what drives Sharon as a Fiverr Pro freelancer, Learn from Fiverr instructor, and one of the real community “role models” featured in our #FiverrConnections campaign.

Tell us a little about you. Who you are, where you’re from, what you do.

Hi! I’m Sharon Lee Thony and I was born and raised in New York City, where I still live with my two little boys, husband, and dog. I’m a digital marketing expert, instructor and brand strategist, specializing in lifestyle brands, luxury hospitality, wellness, beauty and non-profit sectors. After almost two decades of working a 9-5 job, I left the corporate world to start my own consulting business. Now, I’m a Fiverr Pro Seller, an instructor on Learn from Fiverr and a “multipreneur” (and I’ve never been happier)!

What drives you as a doer? Why do you do what you do?

My grandmother taught me “to learn one new thing a day and to do one good deed a day.” It’s such a simple directive and it’s one that I try to uphold in her memory. I am driven by making a positive impact on the world, connecting with people and constantly learning. I have always loved marketing and advertising because it requires a deep understanding of your audience (people, human beings) and the ability to engage with them. The best brands are ones that can emotionally connect with their audience – making them laugh or cry or both. In many ways, great marketing brings us closer to one another.

What’s exciting to me about this moment in time is how the digital landscape has created a direct connection between brands and customers, as well as allowed small brands to find and engage powerful audiences. A little-known mom & pop shop can now scale quickly due to a small investment in Google Ads or an independent designer without any retail locations can become a household name from its presence on Instagram. And what I love about being a Fiverr Pro is how I have been able to connect with clients from various industries to help them do this, too. I feel inspired and challenged, learning about industries and business models that I didn’t even know existed – and I’m connecting with people all over the world. Last week alone, I spoke with clients in Nigeria, Vietnam, and Canada!

In addition to being a Fiverr Pro seller and face of the #FiverrConnections campaign, you’re one of our Learn from Fiverr Instructors, too! What will freelancers learn in your Learn from Fiverr course? Who should take it?

My Instagram Ads Fundamentals course is great for any freelancer who has general knowledge of Instagram but needs to level up on how to create, monitor and track campaigns that generate real business results for clients. My course is not fluffy or all about pretty pictures (although those are super important on Instagram). In the course, I dive deeply into using Instagram’s Analytics features and Facebook’s Ads Manager to target, segment and analyze campaign results. The course provides insight into the way that I approach Instagram advertising for my own clients, using tactics and strategies that have been proven to work. I encourage all digital marketers to check it out and let me know what you think!

What inspired you to take the leap from side hustle to freelancing full-time? What are your business goals? What’s next?

When I was creating my Instagram Ads Fundamentals course for Learn from Fiverr (last October), I spent a lot of time researching the core audience for the course: primarily Fiverr sellers and digital marketing freelancers. What I uncovered were so many inspirational stories about this community of talented, bold and fearless doers on Fiverr. They are out there and doing things, on their own, to make a real impact.

As someone who had always had a 9-5, the freelance lifestyle looked like the perfect combination of creativity, flexibility and profitability. What inspired me was the opportunity to take the leap and explore my own potential – would I be able to leave a full-time role with benefits and a stable paycheck to make it on my own? In other words, could I create value for myself and other businesses with my own talents and contributions?

So, I left my full-time, 9-5 job as Head of Marketing for a startup organization and gave myself three months to “test out” this new profession. I’m happy to share that January 1, 2019 was the three-month mark and things are going phenomenally well! I’ve found my niche in working with consulting clients and Fiverr buyers on developing marketing strategies and digital marketing campaigns. I have also continued to teach digital marketing at General Assembly – you can find me on the NYC campus at least 2-3 times a week. In the next 12 months, I’d like to see myself continue to grow and scale my freelance business with even bigger projects, new service offerings and partnerships.

How have #FiverrConnections changed how you work?

Connections that I’ve made on Fiverr have provided me with a portfolio of clients from all different industries and has helped me to expand my own expertise into new areas. Recently, I met a buyer in Michigan who needed help with a digital marketing strategy for his medical marijuana dispensary. I didn’t know anything about the cannabis industry, so I had to learn a lot about it. Furthermore, I had to figure out which digital platforms would allow him to market (“sell”) marijuana and that required serious research and creativity. So, now I can add that very untraditional bullet to my resume – if anyone needs a cannabis marketing expert, I’m your gal!

How do you feel about being a role model (literally) for other independent professionals?

That’s funny, I don’t see myself as a role model at all! It’s been both humbling and awesome to be a part of the Fiverr Connections campaign. My friends send me Insta Stories when they spot my face in the ads on the NYC subway stations and garbage cans! It’s a lot of fun. I feel the same about freelancing: humbling, awesome and fun. I wake up every morning, grateful that I’ve been able to create the flexible, innovation-driven career that I wanted for myself. I feel more liberated than when I was working a 9-5 and it’s been that freedom I really cherish. What I love most about freelancing is contributing towards the success of my clients, and I’ve gained a ton of satisfaction from working with others that I never would have met otherwise.

Do you have any favorite Fiverr Gigs or freelance services to recommend for your fellow small business owners (besides Learn from Fiverr, of course)?

One of my favorite tools for goal-setting and productivity is my BEST SELF Journal, it has been a game-changer for me. I start and end my day with it, mapping out my schedule and tasks – it has helped me to stay focused on what’s important and to prioritize my attention. Another tool I’m really loving is the And Co. time tracking feature. I am learning a lot about time management as a freelancer, trying to utilize time in the most effective way. When you work for yourself, there are no more water cooler chats about The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or munching on office snacks to pass the time…I’m my own boss now and every minute counts.

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/the-faces-of-fiverrconnections-sharon-digital-marketing-expert-fiverr-pro-seller/feed/1Turning a Childhood Passion into a Freelancer Career [Interview]http://blog.fiverr.com/turning-a-childhood-passion-into-freelancer-career/
http://blog.fiverr.com/turning-a-childhood-passion-into-freelancer-career/#commentsWed, 16 Jan 2019 12:32:13 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28412For Ivilina, the fast-paced, unpredictable, highs and lows of the world of freelance was calling her name as young as 15-years-old. Bored with curriculum, schooling, and the same tests the rest of her classmates were taking, Ivilina knew she wanted to get out there and foray into the world of videography. Fast forward to today, […]

]]>For Ivilina, the fast-paced, unpredictable, highs and lows of the world of freelance was calling her name as young as 15-years-old. Bored with curriculum, schooling, and the same tests the rest of her classmates were taking, Ivilina knew she wanted to get out there and foray into the world of videography.

Fast forward to today, and Ivilina is managing her own video explainer company, comprised of designers, animators, copywriters, and voiceover artists, working with clients throughout the world to create the media they want and desire.

Ivilina claims, however, it would not be possible without the advantage she has received through freelancing on Fiverr. As animation became more popular within the videos, Ivilina was able to network and partner with the right talent to forge on within the videography industry.

Her story is one of collaboration – learn just how small the world is with today’s freelancing technology below.

First of all, thank you for bringing your knowledge and experience to the Fiverr community. For those who don’t know you, can you give us a little background on how you made the leap into freelancing and how you turned your animation skills into an online sale machine?

It is a real pleasure, thank you very much for the opportunity.

My name is Ivilina, and I am running an explainer video company at the moment. We are a small team of designers, animators, and copywriters, and we also partner with a lot of voiceover artists as well.

I actually started my carrier as a videographer. I used to shoot, direct, and edit short movies or corporate videos for big bulgarian companies. I started working when I was 15 years old. I was still in school, but I felt so bored there and I wanted to do something else, something more creative, and more interesting. Learning languages wasn’t really my thing, although I am so thankful that I went to that high-school in retrospect. Knowing languages is vital when you are running a business, especially as a freelancer.

I loved my job back then, none of my classmates or friends were doing anything different than studying and I felt so different. I remember that I used to watch tutorials for hours after school.

I started making small school projects, showing them to my friends and they really loved them. This made me believe in myself.

Back then, all I cared about was videos. I used to love shooting, directing, and editing. One day I needed an animation sequence for a small introduction, so I went on one of the major freelance platforms to find someone who could help me. I haven’t discovered Fiverr then just yet, but I did noticed that most of the people were posting jobs and hiring animators for explainer videos. I didn’t know anything about that type of work, so I went online and I started searching. I found awesome and creative works that completely blew my mind. And then I thought to myself that I could do just that for the rest of my life. I loved how creative these videos were and still are and how much potential there is. And this is when I replaced the videography tutorials with animation tutorials.

I began working as a freelance animator at Fiverr, and everything was going pretty well until I figured that I needed a designer to help me out with the storyboards. I wanted to switch from creating generic template-based videos to unique and custom animation productions. I discovered our amazing talented designer, Miguel, on Fiverr. We started working together and as custom animations were a new thing to me and a new service I was offering, I remember that I was scared at first. I was scared to see if it was actually going to work and, if we were going to meet the expectations from our clients. But our clients loved it!

We started working for cheaper rates to help give our clients a high-quality product for less money. After all, that is why they were choosing to work with us. Soon after that, our dashboard had only custom animation offers and we had a lot of work. Since then, the wave of new clients has never stopped. Our clients were really happy with our rates and results.

Soon, we had to hire another designer and another animator, because we couldn’t handle all of the projects on our own. Now, about 2 years later, our company has 3 amazing designers ( The amazing Etia, Megi, and Miguel, of course!), and 2 more animators ( me and Francis), and it all started with a few happy clients here at Fiverr. They really made us believe in ourselves.

When I started working with Miguel back then, our vision was to completely change the way we do business., I wanted to stop working on non-custom animations and I wanted our business to be all about creativity. I remember that I tried so hard to make our first clients happy. I was preparing a really good discounted price for them and always delivered something extra that they didn’t actually order ( like a custom logo animation, or a custom gif animation), just to make them happy. I think that made us really successful at first, and it still helps to drive our positive reviews.

In June of last year, we made more than 12K. We had just one designer back then- Miguel.

And in May, we made more than 12K in revenue with more than $300 in tips.

And we continue to grow and make our clients even happier.

I’m sure you will agree with me that as a freelancer, it’s vital to handle business in the most professional way. What are your key tips to becoming a successful freelance videographer?

Yes, it is vital to always handle everything in the most professional way possible. I’d say that the most important thing is this: make your customer satisfaction your first priority – always! Make them feel comfortable talking to you, deliver them extras that they didn’t order, and make each of your clients feel like a king or a queen. This is our philosophy, and this made us successful as we continue to grow and improve our skills every day.

Clients always appreciate your time, your attention, and your attitude. This is why we always handle business in the most friendly and transparent way possible. We don’t ever say ‘no’ to a client, we always try to find a solution and, understand exactly what they would like to see in their video. After that, we offer them exactly what they wanted. This is exactly what makes them fall in love with our work, because we understand their vision and convert it into an amazing and engaging video.

By the time we made this interview, I see that you got more than 600 reviews (which is crazy!) and that you have several orders in your queue as well. I believe that managing your time is one of your top priorities, right? What do you do to maximise productivity without compromising quality? What are your technology tips or preferred tools to boost work productivity?

Thank you for your kind words! It is really crazy how many happy clients we have and how much work we are currently working on.

Yes, managing my time and the time of the designers and animators in our company is really important because we are a team. And oddly enough, we seem to have better organisation when we’re under pressure and have to meet several deadlines at once. This way, we never compromise quality, because every artist is working on a project that he or she loves! We discuss each project before starting a brainstorming session to help us decide which designer and animator would be best for each project.

Then, we start our design process and keep the client in the loop to make sure that we are on the same page about everything. This way, the quality of the animation is exactly what the client had expected from the start, because he or she knows exactly the exact stage we’re at and how the animation will look from the very beginning. We also provide clients with a project management document, where we add our dates for each stage of the design process, again making the process really transparent and straightforward for the client. The client knows what to expect and when they can expect the final product.

Our designers and animators are able to start a few projects at once, because of our design process. We frequently work on different projects simultaneously, creating sketches, style samples, etc., and making sure that we are on the same page about everything before we move to the actual designs and animation. We always say that the most difficult part is actually making sure that everything works the way it should. Technically, we can do a storyboard in 2 days, but would it be exactly what they want? No, it won’t. This is why our process of working is as follows:

We start with a script breakdown. We make sure to be as creative as possible, breaking down the script into key sections and adding our ideas for each stage.

Once this is approved, we move to sketching. We do rough, hand- drawn sketches of our ideas to make sure that we are on the same page about the visuals.

Then, we do a style sample. Based on the style that we selected, we design one character or a main element to make sure that the style works.

Once this is approved and perfected, we do a project board. This is where we design all of the characters and elements that will be used in the graphic storyboard later on.

When the project board is approved, we assemble them into the beautiful graphic storyboard.

And just after that, we start the animation, always making sure that the scenes are perfect!

We also offer unlimited revisions to all our stages and we make sure that each step is absolutely perfect, before we move on to the next one.

We had to change our process a few times throughout our experiences, but we always try to improve it, so that it can meet the expectations of our clients in the end.

I wanted to explain the way we work, to illustrate how ‘ making sure that everything works’ takes a lot more time than to technically make a scene or an animation. And explaining the process from the start to the client is vital, so that we can also plan our time with the team and make sure that the results are perfect.

Product differentiation is a very important element to make your service more attractive and help increase revenue. How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? What is your added value that makes your services unique?

I am going to repeat myself here, but I strongly believe that what sets us apart from the competition is our attention to the fine details, our communication with clients, our process, and our creativity. We always offer custom solutions for our clients. We, of course, have fixed prices and packages, but we always try to understand the vision and idea of each client, before we go ahead and offer them some of our packages.

Our customer-focused strategy and philosophy is what makes us unique. Our unlimited revisions, process, attention to detail, attitude, and care are what make clients happy and what will always make our clients happy, not only in the video animation business, but in every business.

Great aesthetics are what companies and brands are often after. What are the essential components that make an explainer video look great?

What makes an explainer video look great is a killer script, flawless design, and creative animation! This is what a video needs to go viral or to attract more clients, visitors, and sales to the business using it.

And our company is your one- stop-shop for all that. We can make your video creative, explanatory, viral…

Not because we are the best company out there, we are not just yet! But because we listen, come up with a solution, and we do it right. We are doers!

Conclusion

Throughout her experience, Ivilina has learned to create a business model that centers on the customer, first and foremost. Supporting a philosophy that caters to the customer before any other team member is consulted, Ivilina has enjoyed immense success as a business owner, explainer video director, and freelancer in this new gig economy world.

Operating a transparent, honest, and dedicated business that is able to churn out video products faster than Ivilina ever imagined, she claims that she absolutely loves working for herself, pursuing her innate passions every single day. She is challenging everyone else out there to consider a life of personal passion, even if it scares you. For her, it’s been many years in the making, but she has curated a professional life that is directly in-line with what she loves and admires in the world.

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/turning-a-childhood-passion-into-freelancer-career/feed/3Great Effects: Updates to VFX & Video Editing Categorieshttp://blog.fiverr.com/great-effects-updates-to-vfx-video-editing-categories/
http://blog.fiverr.com/great-effects-updates-to-vfx-video-editing-categories/#commentsTue, 15 Jan 2019 14:00:29 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28451Hi there, Fiverr community! I’m Yoav, the Video & Animation category manager. Recently, I’ve been looking in particular at the Editing & Post Production subcategory. I see so many beautiful services with such talented sellers behind them. And while these services are impressive and versatile, navigating through them and filtering them down has been a […]

]]>Hi there, Fiverr community! I’m Yoav, the Video & Animation category manager. Recently, I’ve been looking in particular at the Editing & Post Production subcategory. I see so many beautiful services with such talented sellers behind them. And while these services are impressive and versatile, navigating through them and filtering them down has been a struggle.

The world of post-production is so complex that it’s just too hard to put so many unique services under one category, with no distinction between one service to another. So for the past few months, I’ve chatted with many of you and conducted some serious research around how the different services within Editing & Post Production should be structured.

I’m thrilled to announce that we are launching an awesome new Visual Effects subcategory, as well as renaming Editing & Post Production toVideo Editing. As we’re committed to offering our buyers best-in-class service and quality, each of these subcategories is being launched with both Fiverr Pro and regular Gigs, created by top-notch video freelancers from around the world.

Visual Effects

I like to look at Visual Effects freelancers as magicians. Visual Effects allow you to fix and enhance your video footage to improve upon what you currently have. Have an unwanted object in the frame? We’ve got someone who can remove it. Have a screen you’d like to replace with an up to date version of your product? The Visual Effects (VFX in short) subcategory is relevant to everyone from businesses who are looking to enhance or update their existing videos, to filmmakers in need of that extra touch for a video project and more. The freelancers in this subcategory are using best-in-class software such as Mocha, Cinema4d, After Effects, Flame and more.

But why write so many words to explain the wonders of the Visual Effects subcategory when we can simply show you? Take a look at what the subcat has to offer in the #MadeOnFiverr video below.

The Visual Effects subcategory includes six new services:

Rotoscoping & Keying – Services that will help you prepare your footage for some serious VFX, frame-by-frame.

Color Grading – Services that will take your video to the next level, with professional colorists at hand.

Match Moving – Prepare your footage for the next VFX step, with professional motion-tracking services.

Compositing – Combine multiple visual elements and blend them into a stunning piece. Have a screen you’d like to replace? Need to change a background while making it feel natural? This is the subcategory you need

Video Editing

Video Editing is a pretty straightforward service. If you have a pile of footage that you need to edit into one compelling piece or a video you’d like to re-edit into multiple short ads, then Video Editing is the place for you. We’ve also added better filtering options so it’s easier to find the services that you need. You can filter by the type of video you’re looking to edit, such as video ads, travel videos, event videos, family videos, etc.

On top of that, sellers can set their scope of work according to the amount of footage provided by the buyers and the end result they’re looking to receive.

Have questions about our new Video Editing services? Ask us in the comments below!

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/great-effects-updates-to-vfx-video-editing-categories/feed/1The Faces of #FiverrConnections: Adam, CEO & Fiverr Buyerhttp://blog.fiverr.com/the-faces-of-fiverrconnections-adam-ceo-fiverr-buyer/
http://blog.fiverr.com/the-faces-of-fiverrconnections-adam-ceo-fiverr-buyer/#commentsMon, 14 Jan 2019 17:11:29 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28439When you buy a Gig on Fiverr, you’re not just putting an item in your shopping cart. There’s a skilled independent professional on the other side of the screen who is ready and able to help you get it done—and in turn, you’re helping them build their portfolio and their business, too. We like to […]

]]>When you buy a Gig on Fiverr, you’re not just putting an item in your shopping cart. There’s a skilled independent professional on the other side of the screen who is ready and able to help you get it done—and in turn, you’re helping them build their portfolio and their business, too. We like to think of this as the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

The Fiverr community was forged and fortified by these amazing relationships. So we set out to celebrate the dual nature of creative collaboration in our new #FiverrConnections campaign. And who better to embody the power of these partnerships than actual Fiverr community members? More than 20 real Fiverr buyers and sellers future of work-ed it for the camera so we could demonstrate what’s possible when you bring both sides of the marketplace together.

But these innovative individuals are so much more than just a pretty face. These *role* models build, design, write, animate, articulate, and accomplish whatever they set their mind to—and they’re just getting started. Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce each of these amazing creative decision-makers. Read on the meet Adam: PR pro, CEO, and longtime Fiverr buyer.

Tell us a little about you. Who you are, where you’re from, what you do.

My name is Adam Nelson and I am the founder & CEO of New York’s award winning creative agency, Workhouse. In 1999, I started my own company with nothing more than a telephone and a fax machine in a decrepit, rented kitchen of a Soho film outfit. Why did I kick start a business? Desperation. Laid off in the middle of the economic depression of the late 1990’s, jobs of any kind were hopeless. I had $196 in the bank and frankly nowhere to go. Homeless, my original vision was simple: I just wanted to eat every day. So, I gathered a group of students, layabouts, waiters and interns to slowly build a PR agency from the ground up.

My agency, WORKHOUSE, celebrates a history of builders who, once upon a time, went to produce honest labor. Over time we distinguished ourselves with successful representation of personalities like Lou Reed, photographer David LaChapelle, Francis Ford Coppola, The Rolling Stones and brands like Soho House, CBGB, Interview Magazine, and Porsche to name a few. In 2013, we were acquired by one of the nation’s premier public relation firms and I was appointed President of that agency. Yet less than a year after, confined to my cubicle, deflated, disenchanted and utterly depressed, I decided to take the company back. I landed alone in a single office not far from where it all began. Starting from scratch with a little more than a desk and a mobile phone. By doing so I joined an army of modern-age entrepreneurs hell-bent on rewriting the rules.

Fiverr has allowed me to flourish. Propelling some of our most independently creative years of business. Because imagination is no longer held by opposition.

What drives you? Why do you do what you do?

I like deviant composition. Creating work that both rallies and rouses. Because business is built on imagination and creation and desperation gets thing done.

How have freelance services and connections made on Fiverr helped you grow your business?

In honor of Workhouse’s 20th Anniversary, we created a magazine called Boy Scout, intimate conversations between the world’s most creative people featuring profiles with writers, artists, thumb nosers and creative thinkers who posses the spit and polish to get things done. Boy Scout burns with diverse, artistic expression and crackles with an authentic, off-center spirit, highlighting subjects who continue to break revolutionary new ground through a wellspring of popular, untraditional, gay, and concrete culture. A portion of the proceeds received from advertising will benefit God’s Love We Deliver.

Over the past two weeks — and through the Christmas holidays– we have worked with Fiverr freelancers to transcribe the audio interviews for each of our 20 subjects. Without these capable and creative companions, we simply could not have brought the magazine to life, in both speed and virtue, this passion project of sound and fury. We also used Fiverr sound editors to mix EQ & sound quality for all 20 of our notable celebrity interviews, utilized additional Fiverr voiceover artists to create a series of significant DJ drops for the magazine’s audio ID for use within our podcast portal entitled Boy Scout Radio. A companion to the publication which can be found when both go live on 10 January 2019 at Http://www.boyscouted.com

The collaborative nature of services mixed with our own creative underscores the true strength and value of Fiverr’s incredibly rich community. Projects are possible like never before.

Previous to this, we utilized a Fiverr freelancer to craft a motion-graphic logo used in our 20th Anniversary film. It is certainly the most captivating aspect of that project and can be found on our homepage http://www.workhousepr.net

We have also used Fiverr voice over artists to create telephone greetings, SEO and ranking services, directory listings, google indexing and so much more.

What advice do you have for first-time Fiverr buyers?

Seek and you shall find. Impossible is no longer a limitation as Fiverr helps provide access to affordable freelance talent.

Why are connections important for creative-thinking decision makers?

The best work is fostered through creative collaboration. Fiverr is tomorrow’s transformational, today.

What are your business goals? What do you want to *do* next?

Now that I found Fiverr…whatever I imagine!

How does it feel to be a Fiverr poster boy—literally?

I am proud to participate in the amplification of this incredible entity. One that supports future vision, entrepreneurship and the freedom of freelance. Fiverr’s a magical place filled with artisans and technical acrobats. A trusted talent pool whose sole purpose is to skyrocket your ascent.

Adam brings his real-life Fiverr success to our new out-of-home ads.

Want to know more about Adam? Check out Workhouse on social—and tune in as he takes over our Instagram stories this week!

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/the-faces-of-fiverrconnections-adam-ceo-fiverr-buyer/feed/1How to Successfully Transition from Corporate to Freelance [Interview]http://blog.fiverr.com/successfully-transition-corporate-to-freelance/
http://blog.fiverr.com/successfully-transition-corporate-to-freelance/#commentsMon, 14 Jan 2019 13:30:30 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28416In the ever-growing world of the gig economy today, where individuals can offer niched, specialized services right from home, unique case studies are demonstrating what is possible with a little drive and determination. Giselle Marie, an unsuspecting freelancer who is now a Top Level Seller on Fiverr, shares her story below of how she went […]

]]>In the ever-growing world of the gig economy today, where individuals can offer niched, specialized services right from home, unique case studies are demonstrating what is possible with a little drive and determination. Giselle Marie, an unsuspecting freelancer who is now a Top Level Seller on Fiverr, shares her story below of how she went from pursuing life as an actress, to managing one of the most popular voiceover services on the platform today.

Thanks to Fiverr, Giselle claims, she was able to circumvent the need for an agent and agency as she blossomed into a spokeswoman, voiceover artist, and professional audio recording specialist. Starting at low charging rates per each recording service, Giselle and her partner, Tom, worked their way up the money chain, arriving at a lucrative and comfortable lifestyle today.

Learn more Giselle’s story as she went from an 8-5 corporate job, to working for herself, doing what she loves every single day.

First of all, thank you for bringing your knowledge and experience to the Fiverr community. For those who don’t know you, can you give us a little background on how you made the leap into freelancing on Fiverr and how did you turn your voice over actor skill into an online business?

Thank you so much for this opportunity! Well, my name is Giselle Marie, and my partner is Tim Crowe. I got into acting back in high school. I got my degree in Theatre, and after college, I joined the corporate workforce. The 8-5 grind was not at all conducive toward my dream of making a living doing what I love to do; acting. One day, I put my foot down and decided I needed a more flexible job and that I also needed to move to Los Angeles.

I learned to bartend, made the move across the country, and hit the ground running. After learning about Fiverr from a friend and reading the 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris, I came up with the idea to sell Bartending Classes online. Although I had some success selling those classes on Fiverr, what ended up happening was even more fortuitous. Buyers were requesting I make videos for their brands! Thus, I quit bartending, and EasyMedia was born.

It was a joint effort that has blossomed in the most fantastic way. My partner and I worked together to create some top quality spokesperson videos, which earned us our Top Rated Seller badge fairly quickly. When we found out we were expecting, we created a voiceover gig and paused the spokesperson one. That gig took off and yielded even better results.

As a freelancer, if you want to grow and get more jobs, it’s essential to handle business in the most professional way. What are your key tips to become a successful freelance voice-over actor and what are some hidden traps one should be aware of before kick-starting a voice over acting career?

Great question! I want to begin by saying that becoming a voiceover actor on Fiverr is far from the traditional route one would usually take in the voiceover industry. Outside of Fiverr, you need a demo reel and a great agent to start finding auditions (not an easy or quick task). Auditions don’t guarantee you’ll get hired, but you have someone actively looking for opportunities for you.

On Fiverr, that process is very different. When I first started, the only way a buyer could hear your samples was if you had them implemented within your Gig Video. Also, gigs were set at $5, and the only way to charge more was to specify how many words you would record for that amount. I believe that the competitive prices, coupled with Fiverr’s authority in the search engines are what led to such quick success. That could have turned out to be a disaster! Why? Because if you launch any business without proper planning, training, and experience, your reputation could take quite a sour turn. Especially on a site where buyers leave public reviews.

As it turns out, our quality of videos and voiceovers were already pretty top notch so, we were leaving outstanding first impressions. My training in customer service, my rigorous acting classes, and my partner’s vast knowledge behind the camera was essential in our success on a site that was growing at such an exponential rate!

You’re offering very competitive prices but don’t you think that it would be more advantageous for your business to work with fewer clients but on more higher-paying projects? What’s your strategy to maximize productivity without compromising quality?

If you think our prices are competitive now, you should have seen them four years ago! Haha! Because we started when Fiverr was still in its relative infancy, we couldn’t charge more than $5 per 100 words. The competition just wouldn’t allow it, and it was also unrealistic to charge more when I didn’t have enough samples. Since then we’ve raised our prices to $15 per 100 words, which is a 200% increase. What a difference it made! Much less work for more pay. I’m making just as much or more than the average voice actor outside of Fiverr… and I don’t even have to audition!

We do plan to raise our prices again, and once I join SAG-AFTRA (the actors union), I’ll need to increase my prices to the union rate. I’m looking forward to Fiverr implementing a Fiverr Pro category for Voiceover and Spokesperson work for that reason.

We have a very effective and streamlined process that we’ve refined over the years to make our low prices worth it. So far, a 48-hour delivery gives my queue enough time to accumulate a very decent day rate (for non-union standards). Once my queue is full, I sit down and knock them out within an hour or two. While I record, my partner is editing and delivering. Sometimes, we have so much work, that we outsource the editing to an editor for an hourly rate that still makes it worth it. Extras and quick responses have helped immensely to maximize profits and cut on the time it takes to communicate with our buyers.

Product differentiation is a very important element to make your service more attractive and help increase revenue. How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? What is your added value that makes your services unique?

Ah, yes. We don’t just offer voiceovers as I’ve already mentioned, but it is our most popular gig. We differentiate ourselves primarily by being a partnership. Our combined talents compliment each other so well that we can deliver a plethora of services and extras.

So, let’s say a buyer needs a voiceover synced to an existing video? We can do that. Maybe they also need overlaying text or an animated intro? We can do that too. Perhaps they need royalty-free music? We have a nice little library to choose from. By the time we deliver on all those extra’s, the buyer has a fully fledged produced video they can use for any purpose all because of our shared knowledge and experience!

The most challenging part as a freelancer is to get more jobs in. How do you find new clients and promote your freelance business?

I have to be honest here, most of our buyers find us through the Fiverr search. We have done some online marketing in the way of paid advertising, but it hasn’t paid off yet. Our specialty is in the video production industry and not online marketing so we’ve yet to figure out what the best kind of platform to advertise on would benefit us the most. However, I am active on Instagram. I share our finished productions there, which have led to some sales. Our primary income comes from our repeat customers. Having all your eggs in one basket is not a safe strategy so, we plan to hire online marketers right here on Fiverr to help us expand our reach. Outsourcing this will ensure that we continue to focus on the excellent quality of our deliveries and that our customers get the attention they deserve.

Conclusion

Necessity breeds ingenuity, and as we have seen in Giselle’s story, she is now able to do everything from record a voiceover, to overlay text with an intro and background music. As most people reading this will agree, just the promise of being able to not only work from home, but also pursue something that is innately passionate to oneself, is enough to make waking up every day and putting in a full 12-hour schedule worth it.

So is joining the gig economy going to be easy? Absolutely not. But if you’re doing something you love, does each work day really feel like work? Giselle wouldn’t trade the world for her personal freelancing business she now runs with her partner right through Fiverr.

This year might be the perfect time to venture out and see what the independent workforce has in store for you.

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/successfully-transition-corporate-to-freelance/feed/1Balancing Act: How to Make Time for Creative Projects and Client Workhttp://blog.fiverr.com/balancing-act-how-to-make-time-for-creative-projects-and-client-work/
http://blog.fiverr.com/balancing-act-how-to-make-time-for-creative-projects-and-client-work/#commentsFri, 11 Jan 2019 14:00:23 +0000https://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28377Resolved to pursue more of your own passions in 2019? If you’re a freelancing creative, you most likely have a litany of personal projects you’re itching to work on in your free time. But it can be a challenge to juggle your ideas with client deadlines and building a thriving business. Fortunately, there are ways […]

]]>Resolved to pursue more of your own passions in 2019? If you’re a freelancing creative, you most likely have a litany of personal projects you’re itching to work on in your free time. But it can be a challenge to juggle your ideas with client deadlines and building a thriving business.

Fortunately, there are ways to carve out time for your creative aspirations outside of your freelance career. Here are five ways you can balance your own projects with client work this year.

Stagger professional work with personal projects.

Many freelancers hope to take, say, Friday afternoons or the last week of the month off to work on their passion projects. While you may have the best of intentions, the reality is that you can get mired in crazy work periods when you’re a solopreneur. Whether you design logos, craft website content, or mix and master audio, oftentimes you’re so surrounded by deadlines and projects that it feels nearly impossible to carve out a bit of time for your own stuff. To fit in your creative projects among your professional obligations, switch between the two. For instance, for every four hours you work on stuff from clients, commit to spending a few hours on your own work. Or after you’ve completed a huge project, allow yourself a bit of time to focus on recording your own music, working on your novel, or formatting that ebook.

Treat your projects like clients.

Truth: Money is a great motivator. To stop treating your personal projects like an ugly, neglected stepchild, throw money into the equation. One thing you can try is to “pay yourself” for every hour you spend on your creative projects, or when you hit certain milestones. To up the seriousness, track your time, and see how much you’re actually investing.

Let’s say you’re recording your next album. Each 30 minutes you spend writing, recording, or mixing, sock away $10 into a designated savings account. That money could be funneled back into the creation of your masterpiece. Or if you’re working on your first ebook for your fantasy novel series, for each milestone you hit, put away $50 toward the editing, layout, and formatting of the first installment. Heck, you might even send yourself an invoice using Fiverr’s AND CO.

Showcase your potential through personal endeavors.

The projects you work on in your own time can not only provide personal fulfillment, but they can also help showcase your potential. For instance, say you’ve established credibility and experience as an app designer, but in recent months you’ve been upping your skills in creating chatbots. Creating a chatbot that helps answer questions on how chatbots work (meta, we know), demonstrates a brand-new skill set that expands what you can offer to new clients. Or if you’ve long been a content writer, but want to expand your content-creation skills into video or podcasting, roll up your sleeves and get knee-deep in learning how to create and produce content in a visual form. You can now position yourself as a multimedia content creator.

Make the most of client work to bolster skills.

Not only can your passion projects inspire you professionally, but it can also go the other way around. The beauty of doing something creative for a living is that you can use “client time” to bolster skills you can apply to your own work.

Think of work you do for others and work you do for yourself as a Venn diagram of sorts. Look for the overlap between different skill sets. So let’s say you do basic design. You can also land projects that require illustration, which is something you’d do for fun anyway. By folding in what you want to do with what you’re already doing, you can kill two birds with one stone.

Date your project.

Loosely based on 40 Days of Dating, a social experiment by graphic designer friends Jessica Walsh and Timothy Goodman, commit to a single project as if you’re dating it. Spend 30 minutes a day focused on it, go on a couple of weekly “dates,” journal about what you’re working on and what progress you hope to make, and designate a weekend during the 40-day to immerse yourself in that ebook, novel, or video you want to churn out.

It’s certainly not easy to juggle client work and personal endeavors. But by getting clever and keeping it top of mind, you can make headway on work that matters most to you while growing your freelancing business.

Are you trying to balance between your own creative projects and client work? What’s your top tip for making it work? Tell us in the comments below.

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/balancing-act-how-to-make-time-for-creative-projects-and-client-work/feed/1Making “Connections”: Behind the Scenes of Our New Campaignhttp://blog.fiverr.com/making-connections-behind-the-scenes-of-our-new-campaign/
http://blog.fiverr.com/making-connections-behind-the-scenes-of-our-new-campaign/#commentsThu, 10 Jan 2019 14:00:54 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=284192 continents. 2.5 weeks. 3 shoots. 30+ community member interviews. 60 portraits. 75+ out-of-home ads. 100+ videos. Countless stories. An endless supply of inspiration. 1 new campaign celebrating the power of connections. Fiverr exists to change how the world works together. But that world is evolving. People are leveraging collaboration tools to work digitally from […]

Fiverr exists to change how the world works together. But that world is evolving. People are leveraging collaboration tools to work digitally from anywhere around the world, with global or remote teams, and are always looking to uplevel their skills. So as the future of work evolves, so does our story. We’re an online ecosystem, where each innovative individual brings professional needs and creative contributions.

So when setting out to celebrate the power of these connections forged on Fiverr, we knew we couldn’t do it alone. You can’t talk about creative collaborations without some visionary partners. So we tapped creative agency Mekanism, photographer Jason Madera, director Martin Stirling, Fiverr Pro videography team Colormatics, and (most importantly) real Fiverr community members from both sides of the marketplace to bring our brand-new brand story to life.

Take a peek behind the scenes of our whirlwind production of the #FiverrConnections campaign, coming soon to a social channel, billboard and subway stop near you.

And guess what? It’s not too late to be a part of the campaign! Stay tuned for success stories from the 20+ community members featured in the campaign. Then share your own #FiverrConnections success stories in the comments below or on social for the chance to earn Fiverr credit and be profiled right here on The Do List.

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/making-connections-behind-the-scenes-of-our-new-campaign/feed/3Surfer By Day, Top-Rated Seller By Night: How Copywriter Morgan Sliff Lives the Remote Work Dreamhttp://blog.fiverr.com/rising-talent-to-top-rated-seller/
http://blog.fiverr.com/rising-talent-to-top-rated-seller/#commentsWed, 09 Jan 2019 14:00:51 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28397We’re constantly amazed by the accomplishments of our Fiverr community. Whether it’s taking the freelance leap or making that first sale, no hard work goes unnoticed around here. But every once in a while, we get to witness those inspiring bottom-to-top climbs, and just like any proud parent, we love to show them off. Enter […]

]]>We’re constantly amazed by the accomplishments of our Fiverr community. Whether it’s taking the freelance leap or making that first sale, no hard work goes unnoticed around here. But every once in a while, we get to witness those inspiring bottom-to-top climbs, and just like any proud parent, we love to show them off. Enter Morgan Sliff: pro surfer and writer extraordinaire who worked her way from Rising Talent to Top-Rated Seller! We chatted with Morgan about hard (yet majorly satisfying) work, grilled her for seller strategies, and even got a sneak peek at her 2019 copywriting predictions.

Hey Morgan! First things first – tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hey everyone! I’m Morgan Sliff, and I’m a copywriter and journalist. I live in Hermosa Beach, California where I grew up by the ocean with my two brothers. I actually lead a double life—when I’m not typing away in my co-working space, I’m a professional longboard surfer :).

How did you become interested in writing? What inspired you to go down that path?

I was on a very different career path in my early twenties but had always been encouraged by my professors to pursue English. I didn’t think there was much of a career in writing—boy, was I wrong. By chance, back in 2015, I got asked by my local paper, the Easy Reader, to scribe a daily blog for an athletic quest I was (and still am) on. After a few submissions, they were like, ‘whoa, you can seriously write!’. Besides the daily blog, I started doing community journalism for them and acquired a few mentors (now lifelong friends) in the field. I left my boring desk job and haven’t looked back since!

Sounds amazing. So what made you join Fiverr as a seller?

What really drew me to Fiverr was the opportunity for diversity that I wasn’t afforded by having a few select clients. I LOVE learning about the different gears that make this world spin. On Fiverr, I’ve been able to write about everything from Bitcoin to Feng Shui to Ferarris to personal pieces for mini-celebs—every article is a new journey and something to grow from. To add, Fiverr has been quite the lucrative venture!

When you first joined Fiverr, your Gig was handpicked by Fiverr’s Editorial Team, granting you a temporary Rising Talent Badge and lots of perks! Did you notice the change?

YES! I started seeing inquiries pile up in my inbox and I knew something was up!

You’re now a Top Rated Seller (YAY!). What Fiverr connections and clients helped you get there?

I started focusing on my Fiverr account in April 2018 and it took a solid seven months and a lot of work to make it to Top Rated Seller. The president of Bolton Financial Group out of the UK contacted me to write a white paper for their new STO (Security Token Offering—think cryptocurrency). He needed it immediately. After about 48 hours of flipping through miles of crypto and blockchain novels, I wrote a 50-page technical white paper in two weeks! It was tough and I didn’t sleep AT ALL, but I’m so proud of what I was able to accomplish. I started writing very technical articles for that client every day for two months, which helped speed the process (and my career) along.

What advice would you give new Fiverr sellers?

This platform is such an incredible financial opportunity—one could have the potential to work full-time solely via Fiverr. But it takes a lot of work, cultivation, and attention to sprout the seeds of endless inquiries! For newcomers, I’d highly recommend putting together a fun, authentic video that showcases your true self and your unique talents! Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with it. And when you take the leap in creating your first gig, I propose starting off by discounting your standard rates slightly until you have about ten solid reviews that prove your worth—you’ll take a small hit, but it’s an investment that’ll get you on the map.Also, it’s important to treat every last client, no matter how small of a job, like they’re the most important person in your Fiverr world. It makes every transaction smoother and you both benefit from it. Always be friendly to each person you come across—smile through the keyboard, and remember that there is a real human at the other side of the screen. Fortifying those Fiverr connections makes everything easier!

Any writing trends/pieces of advice for 2019 that you care to share?

As you all know, digital everything is on the uptick. Print journalism is fading, and everyone is getting their information online. So staying ahead of the curve, analyze your target market and finding a niche that’s in demand and will sustain for a long time. For me, it’s been company blogs.Another critical thing for up-and-coming writers in this field to focus on is to make sure you’re doing quality research from credible sources and not simply regurgitating information. Keep ethics in your pieces and contribute to the betterment of the written word. Make sure when people are reading your work that the information is accurate. It’s easy to write something and post it online, but it’s easy to lose trust with pages of misinformation.

Ready to hang ten with Morgan? Check out her copywriting Gigs—and give her some love in the comments below!

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/rising-talent-to-top-rated-seller/feed/1Get More Done Together: Welcome to the Future of Workhttp://blog.fiverr.com/get-more-done-together-welcome-to-the-future-of-work/
http://blog.fiverr.com/get-more-done-together-welcome-to-the-future-of-work/#commentsSun, 06 Jan 2019 00:02:30 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28390At the beginning of every year, we at Fiverr have the privilege of looking back and reflecting on all that you, our amazing, global community, have accomplished. We’re incredibly impressed with what you can create when you come together and now as we look forward, we want to double down on making every amazing collaboration […]

]]>At the beginning of every year, we at Fiverr have the privilege of looking back and reflecting on all that you, our amazing, global community, have accomplished. We’re incredibly impressed with what you can create when you come together and now as we look forward, we want to double down on making every amazing collaboration possible come to life.

The power of these connections, and the relationships you fortify through them, has motivated us to put a new stake in the ground. Today, we’re unveiling our celebration of collaboration, and of the global connections you make at any given moment. So take a look at how we’re bringing our connections concept to the world—to say we’re really excited for you to see it, is an understatement.

And since we’re in a celebratory mood, we want to introduce just a few of the people who have made us so proud. We’ve once again recruited real Fiverr community members (like you!) to serve as the face of our brand. Let’s meet some of the innovative rockstars from both sides of the marketplace who embody the power of creative collaboration.

Meet Juliet, who crushes content strategy for Knotel. And while she knows A LOT, she wasn’t totally sure how to get the perfect soundtrack for her company’s newest video. And here’s Uni. Singer, songwriter and musician. He collaborates to create something awesome for his clients. And by collaborating with video experts on Fiverr, Juliet finds exactly what she’s looking for.

Here’s Kelley, who co-founded her own company. Like anyone trying to get a business off the ground, Kelley was just struggling with where to begin, what to accomplish first, and what she needed to do to create a roadmap to success. Mandy, a Voice Over artist on Fiverr helps give a voice to her client’s messages. She’s able to articulate company missions for clients in no time at all. And in no time, using Fiverr, Kelley finds a better way to navigate the launch of her business.

This is Aleidy. She’s got big plans for 2019. And she’s looking for a partner to help bring them to life. Darren, a 2D animator on Fiverr, gives life to illustrations for his clients daily. Separately they’re able to pursue their passions, and the connections they’ve made on Fiverr, help them accomplish their goals.

So what we’re really saying with these beautiful portraits of our incredible community is this: you are all so much more than the needs that bring you to our marketplace or the deliverables you provide. Individually, you’re amazing, but together, we’re unstoppable. We are going to celebrate that all year – in every action we take and every story we tell of changing how the world works together.

So, what are your stories of success? What are you proud of? What connections have you made that have empowered you to do more, or reinforced the passion and behind your work? We want to hear from you. We want you to share in our celebration of connections. So comment below, email us, give us a shout on social, hell, throw up a smoke signal. However you prefer to communicate best is how we want to hear your story of connection on Fiverr.

When we combine forces, the possibilities are endless. You’ve already surprised us with everything you’ve accomplished. Now it’s time to surprise yourself. Learn more about what drives our community, and your peers, here. And if you need us, we’ll always be at the intersection of your needs, and getting it done.

How have #FiverrConnections changed how you work? Share your success stories in the comments below.

]]>http://blog.fiverr.com/get-more-done-together-welcome-to-the-future-of-work/feed/2Who’s That Girl: Wyclef Jean Commissioned This Illustrator to Design His Next Album Coverhttp://blog.fiverr.com/wyclef-jean-asked-this-illustrator-to-design-his-album-cover/
http://blog.fiverr.com/wyclef-jean-asked-this-illustrator-to-design-his-album-cover/#commentsFri, 04 Jan 2019 14:00:29 +0000http://blog.fiverr.com/?p=28236Here at Fiverr, we love a good success story, and this one is next-level good! First, let’s flashback to August 2018. As part of our Music Month collaboration with the legendary Wyclef Jean, we asked five illustrators to redesign Wyclef’s iconic album covers. The results were out-of-this-world, but one design, in particular, caught the artist’s eye: Luna Monogatari‘s […]

]]>Here at Fiverr, we love a good success story, and this one is next-level good! First, let’s flashback to August 2018. As part of our Music Month collaboration with the legendary Wyclef Jean, we asked five illustrators to redesign Wyclef’s iconic album covers. The results were out-of-this-world, but one design, in particular, caught the artist’s eye: Luna Monogatari‘s reimagined Carnival III. In fact, he was so impressed – he came back for more! Wyclef returned to Fiverr, asking the Rising Talent to design the cover art for his upcoming album, Wyclef Goes Back to School. Needless to say, her (and our) excitement was through the roof. Read on to learn more about her incredible experience and check out the final creation!

Hey Luna! First, tell us a bit about yourself and your creative aesthetic!

Hi! I am a Portuguese visual artist/illustrator/designer/whatever you want to call it based in London (Labels are quite limiting are they not?). When I’m my studio, I try not to limit myself and experiment with a lot of different projects. I work with apparel, streetwear, accessories, merchandise, ceramics, paintings, animation, illustrations… My work is mostly spotted by my use of colors and characters/elements that help me create this world that I have inside my head.

Who or what are you most inspired by?

I always knew that I wanted to create my own unique universe so any artist/creator that can do that inspires me. But my main sources of inspiration are Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli, and artists like James Jean, Yoshitomo Nara, Kaws, and Steve Harrington. I’m also inspired by and love to work with a lot of colors. I use them to bring harmony and create complex scenarios full of different elements.

Talk to us about your Wyclef project! Were you ecstatic?!

I LOVED working with Wyclef and his team again! It almost felt like I got the chance to I to give continuity to the last album cover I designed for him, and in a way, build a narrative through the two album covers. My vision was a mix between maintaining a connection with the last album cover and introducing the new concept of “Wyclef going back to school”, which explains the school bus and students in both concepts. I wanted the album covers to explore the concept of connection; a connection between generations, elements, time and space and have this storyline that explains that we are always learning from each other.

Could you walk us through your work process?

I knew Wyclef’s music (I mean, who doesn’t? He’s huge!), but I did pay more attention to his lyrics and melodies while working on this project. I really wanted my artwork to represent what Wyclef tries to tell through his music, and since he talks so much about community and this sense of connection between people, I felt like I needed to introduce that in the covers as well. I started by sketching a very simple idea thinking that as long as the idea has a sense of connection in it, it would work. All the elements and details were born from there! Color also plays a very important role in the cover, as it is the main link between all three album covers I designed – they all have the same palette.

Did his music influence the elements in your design? Also, do you have a favorite Wyclef song?

Yes, as I explained, his music influenced me a lot and dictated the entire design! Oh, and my favorite Wyclef song is definitely “Thank God for the Culture”